Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-06-29
USES OF PHOSPHORUS.

a Health-G Giving Article Winch, In tho
Eands OF IncenJ,aries, Becomes Dan.
Gcrous.
The attempt TO set fire TO the Morgan
Steamship COmpany's pier by phosphorus
has called particular attention TO Tn 1T sub
stance, aud n reporter for the New York
Nal dHf Express obtained from Dr. H.
Mott some interesting facts about its uses.
The process by which phosphorus IL made
from bones, which arc obtaidei from
bone boilers or tho waste bono blacI OF
sugar rehlcries is this: The aim of the
Ignition OF the bones is the complete de-
strlction OF the organic matter. The
operation Is conducted in a kiln, very
similar u those used for burning lime. A
layer of brushwood having been put At tho
bottom Of tho kin, bones form the next
stratum, and so on alternately. Tho
wood having been lighted the combustion
OF the bones ensues. In order to carry OF
the fumes, the smell of which is very
on tnsive, a hood made OF boiler plato Is
placed on tho kiln, and either connected
with a tall chimney, or the smoke and
gases are conducted into the fire-Iiln and
burned. The white burnt bones are with
drawn through an opening reserved in
tho wall on purpose, the kiln being kept
continually in operation. When made by
process Of distillation, the vaporlzed
phosphorus goes out and is led into
water, where IL condenses, becoming pure
white. The exact condition in which
phosphorus occurs in the human system
Is not yet known, and the great problem
OF science Is 70 ascer ain just exactly in
In what condition IL can be given aud
takcn up by the blood. As TO ITS ap-
plication TO the human system, Is
most successful form is an acid
phosphate OF limo. II is used very cx-
iensivo,y In baking powdcrs In all grains,
and In food generally, there is a large
amount OF phosphorus in the shaps Of
| phosphatSs, and IL Is this which makes
oatmeal so nourishing.
fure phosphorus, IL dry, will turn into
hame In less than two minutes, and is
| very dangerous. As a substitute for this
10 making matchcs-a leading use for
phosphOrus-is red phosphorus, which IL
not dangerous, AMI IL made by the appli.
cation OF heat IL contains all the prom
critics OF puro phosphorus and appears
| ike oxide OF iron. The turning of phos-
pnorus into hro is ne 70 rapid oxidation,
ana IL thus becomes a most valuable pnrt
OF the outfit OF an incendiary, who bv
throwing small piece of Il among straw Or
nay, accomplishos his purpose. In the max
ing OF matches workmen engaged in that
| department in which tho phosphorus il
handled arc often affected by a peculiar
kind OF carlos OF the jawbone, the real
cause OF which is the moro q ificult to as
certain, as the work-people engaged IN the
manufacture OF phosphorus and exposed
to its vapor TO such an extent rs TO render
their breath luminous in the dark, are not
similarly affected In regard to phos-
phorescence DR.. Mott said there was no
phosphorus about it. IL results from the
effect OF bLsGl?hide OF bariun, having a
property Of absorbing light OF day and
emitting IL at night This is what is put
on match-safes 10 make them visible in
dark and the walls OF dark rooms arc
sometimes painted with IL The doctor
said he had known of big screens painted
with II to illuminate the whole room, and
to have soon statues painted with IL, the
light from which was great enough tc
1